Invitation by NOC
Message from the National Organizing Committee
Welcome to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, where the next XXVIth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union will take place in August 2006. The astronomical community in the Czech Republic is proud to host such major event in astronomy and astrophysics for the second time after 39 years since the General Assembly in 1967.
The GA will be run by the National Organizing Committee (NOC), which was established by the Committee for Astronomy of the Czech Republic. The preparations go full steam forward and the actual information is available through the web pages of the GA:
The scientific program, which will be hosted completely in the Prague Congress Centre (PCC) located near the town center, consists of 4 Invited Discourses, 6 Symposia, 17 Joint Discourses, 7 Special Sessions, a meeting of women in astronomy and a meeting of young astronomers. The registration and all lecture halls are located in one building, which is convenient to move from one meeting to another. The PCC is connected to a Metro line providing an easy access to other places in the town. The Opening ceremony will be held in the PCC on Tuesday 15th August, followed by a welcome reception. GA dinner will happen in the Prague Industrial Palace on Wednesday 23rd August and the closing ceremony will take place in the PCC on Thursday 24th August 2006.
The scientific program will be complemented with public lectures delivered by some GA participants to a broad audience of non-specialists. A rich history of astronomy and physics in Prague will be presented during special talks and walking tours in the town. The social program includes a concert of the Prague Philharmonia. Many different visits to historical sites in Prague and other places in the Czech Republic and Central Europe will also be offered.
The Registration, booking of accommodation, social program and other events are or will be available through the GA web page. All these functions are operated by the agency Congress Business Travel providing the GA secretariat. CBT is accessible at the following address:
| GA IAU 2006 Secretariat | Tel.: | +420.224 942 575 |
| Congress Business Travel Ltd. (CBT) | +420.224 942 579 | |
| Lidická 66 | FAX: | +420.224 942 550 |
| 150 00 Praha 5 - Smíchov | E-mail: | |
| Czech Republic | Web: | http://www.astronomy2006.com |
We hope that all the participants and guests will enjoy the IAU XXVIth General Asembly and use this opportunity to get in touch with a deep rooted traditions of Prague originating from Tycho and Kepler, providing fundamentals for the future of astronomy and astrophysics.
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| Jan Palouš Chairman of NOC |
Jan Vondrák Vice-Chairman of NOC |
